Fox Theatre

4111 Woflin Avenue,
Amarillo, TX 79102

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Mann Theatres

Architects: L. Perry Pearson, Paul Wuesthoff

Firms: Pearson, Wuesthoff & Skinner

Nearby Theaters

Fox Theater on Wolflin Ave.

Opened July 31, 1968, the Fox Theatre was a single screen theatre operated by the Mann Theater chain. In November 1974 it was twinned.

It was closed July 27, 1992 and was demolished in summer of 1993.

Contributed by Billy Smith / Don Lewis / Billy Holcomb

Recent comments (view all 13 comments)

ronnwood
ronnwood on October 21, 2013 at 1:55 pm

The Fox Theater on Wolflin Ave opened in September 1968 showing “THE ODD COUPLE”. It played for weeks and weeks but I never wanted to see a movie about 2 old guys so I didn’t go to the theater until the premier of “BARBARELLA” December 3, 1968. I saw 262 movies there before they shut the place down July 27, 1992. The last was “DEEP COVER” June 20, 1992. The building sat empty and forlorn until it was demolished in the summer of ‘93. A Taco Bell and other businesses are now located at the spot where movies were once shown.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 13, 2015 at 4:06 pm

July 31st, 1968 grand opening ad in photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 13, 2015 at 4:22 pm

November 27th, 1974 grand opening ad as a twin also in photo section

gunnermikee
gunnermikee on September 21, 2016 at 12:02 am

I was a projectionist at the Fox for many years. First as a relief projectionist from 1974 to 1984. In 1984 became the full time projectionist till laid off in 1991. Ted Mann owned the property and sold it off in 1992. Hung the second movie screen in 1974 and helped install Sensurround for the movie Earthquake. Sensurround was too loud, the low frequency bled into the 2nd auditorium. Volume was turned way down. Lots of high school kids got their first job there.

Refman67
Refman67 on September 16, 2017 at 3:56 am

I saw some very good movies at the Fox, including GREASE, SUPERMAN, and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK; however, as I got older and became more film savvy, I realized what a poor theater it was in which to see films. Its two screens were too narrow to accommodate films shown in 2.35, so over 20% of the image landed on both sides of the auditorium walls. Union projectionists were not employed but high school and college kids were, and the presentations were continuously screwed up. The projector lights were too dim and there seemed to always be a technical glitch in most presentations. I saw RAIDERS there three times several months apart and, no kidding, each subsequent presentation was shorter than the previous one due to the projectionists splicing out parts of it for whatever reasons. Celluloid lovers can thank theaters like this for giving us digital projection. Poor management and crappy quality are what did it in. Definitely NOT a cinema treasure.

gunnermikee
gunnermikee on September 29, 2017 at 6:52 pm

Refman67 you are right about the quality going down hill. In the beginning Fox had the best equipment in town. Norelco Projectors were capable of showing 70mm and 6 ch sound over Altec Lansing VOTT speakers. When Mann took over in 1973 Mann wasn’t into quality and ran the business on a shoestring. Kept Rhonda in diamonds. Raiders ran for 5 months however Mann wouldn’t spend the $8 grand for a new print. Acetate stock couldn’t take the wear (if Mylar stock no problems would have occurred). Xenon lamps (1kw or 1.5kw) where to small for the throw. In the 80’s the theater gradually moved to manager/operator which high school operators. I was a local union operator IA 469 but worked Thurs(ship in/out night) Fri and Sat. Had platters installed and moved the Norelcos back to Los Angeles. Mann’s management was always behind the curve. Didn’t really see the multiplexs coming until way too late.

Refman67
Refman67 on October 10, 2017 at 6:40 am

gunnermikee, your explanation helps to understand why it was a theater of such poor quality. Ironically, though, the presentations at the MANN 4-Plex on 45th and Bell were superior to those at the Fox. At least it could show a movie in its proper aspect ratio with both a decently bright picture and good sound. In fact, even though the Mann 4-Plex became a one-dollar theater in the early eighties, I used to wait for movies to go there that I really wanted to see if they had started their runs at the Fox.

gunnermikee
gunnermikee on January 22, 2018 at 3:49 am

After a while I read u'r comment about aspect ratios. Kind of wondered what u are talking about. Only two aspect ratios in that day. Scope and flat. Set of lense for each. Aperture plates cut for each so as not to bleed over black masking. Through the years there never heard a complaint.

Refman67
Refman67 on January 31, 2018 at 12:14 pm

The screens at the Mann 4-Plex were formatted to show scope films and would physically place large black “mattes” on the sides of the screens when playing a film in 1.85; the screens at the Fox seemed to be formatted for only 1.85 films, so that both scope and flat presentations were on a one-size-fits-all screen. The scope-shot film, THE UNTOUCHABLES, for example, opened at the Fox in 1987, then moved to the discounted Mann 4-Plex, and I distinctly remember, having watched it multiple times at both locations, seeing more of the picture when it was at the 4-Plex.

As far as the public not complaining, I’m not surprised. In 1998, on a Sunday afternoon, I went to see GONE WITH THE WIND in Grapevine, Texas and sat through, what turned out to be, a bad print of it. Everything looked slightly out of focus to the point where if an actor was, say, fifteen feet or more from the camera being photographed with a normal lens, it was very difficult to make out his/her face. The auditorium I saw it in was packed, as was an adjacent one showing it and using the same print. The next day, I called and talked to the manager and he said that, yes, they had received a poorly made print and had a new one on order, but that I was the ONLY PERSON who had complained. Also, just a few years ago, I found myself complaining at two different local theaters that had left their 3D-convertors on while showing 2D presentations. So, I if people don’t complain about movies looking fuzzy/distracting, I don’t see them doing so about aspect ratios.

gunnermikee
gunnermikee on March 7, 2018 at 12:43 am

And my last post I guess on the Fox. When the Fox was twined in 1974 the cinematic effect of a large screen was lost. The single screen Fox had a very nice picture projected. You are right scope wasn’t much larger than flat. RCA Tech services came in to set the two sets of projectors up. They (RCA) tried a boat load of lens. The lens selected were a compromise. And not a very good one. I’m like you didn’t see much of difference between the two aspects ratios. The 4Plex was designed from scratch with the screens matched to the lens. Also everything in the 4Plex was leased. When Mann pulled the plug they closed the door and left town.

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